IF YOU NEVER HEARD OF BOXTY, BUT YOU LIKE POTATO PANCAKES, ROSTI
OR LATKES, YOU'LL PROBABLY LOVE THIS TRADITIONAL IRISH POTATO PANCAKE.
BOXTY IS LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN AN AMERICAN PANCAKE AND A HASHBROWN. LIKE WITH
ANY BASIC DOUGH, BOXTY CAN BE PREPARED IN MANY WAYS, FROM BEING FRIED AS
CAKES IN A SKILLET OR COOKED AS DUMPLINGS ON A SIMMERING STEW. OUR RECIPE IS
FOR PAN-FRIED BOXTY.

WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF IRISH FOODS, THEY OFTEN THINK OF THE POTATO.
IT'S TRUE THAT THE POTATO IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF IRISH HISTORY, BUT THE
POTATO HAD A LONG VOYAGE BEFORE IT EVER REACHED IRELAND.

MAKES 4-6 SERVINGS
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 CUP RAW GRATED POTATO
1 CUP MASHED POTATOES
1 CUP FLOUR
1/2 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER
1/2 TEASPOON SALT
1 EGG
1/4 CUP MILK
BUTTER FOR FRYING
SOUR CREAM (OPTIONAL)
HOW YOU DO IT:
USE PAPER TOWELS TO SQUEEZE MOISTURE OUT OF GRATED POTATOES. TOSS
GRATED POTATO IN A MEDIUM BOWL WITH FLOUR, BAKING POWDER AND SALT. MIX
IN MASHED POTATOES. IN A SMALL BOWL, WHISK TOGETHER EGG AND MILK, AND
THEN ADD TO POTATO MIXTURE. COMBINE USING A WOODEN SPOON OR HANDS. FORM
INTO PATTIES. MELT A TABLESPOON OF BUTTER IN A SKILLET OVER MEDIUM HEAT
AND ADD PATTIES. FRY UNTIL GOLDEN AND COOKED THROUGH, ABOUT 4 MINUTES
ON EACH SIDE. SERVE WITH SOUR CREAM, IF YOU WISH.

THE POTATO JOURNEYS FROM PERU TO IRELAND

The potato first grew in South America (in what today would be
Peru) thousands of years ago. The ancient Inca civilization farmed potatoes
of all kinds. European sailors arrived in South America in the 16th century,
hoping to find treasure and valuable land. Spanish explorers conquered the
Incas, who had mined and excavated a lot of gold for hundreds of years. The
Spanish explorers sailed back to Europe, bringing the stolen Incan gold and
other items of interest home. The Spanish had observed how the potatoes
contributed to the Inca's strength and health. They observed that the
potato was a good source of nutrients and energy, so they introduced the
potato to Europe.

Though the potato was viewed as strange at first, it eventually
became a popular food throughout Europe. The potato grew especially well in
Ireland because of its soil, chilly climate and wet weather. Potatoes quickly
became Ireland's main crop, and the Irish ate more potatoes than any
other food. Their potato-rich diet was nutritious, and people depended on
potatoes as their main source of food. In the middle of the 1800s, the potato
crop in Ireland got struck with disease. Potatoes would no longer grow. Many
Irish people went hungry, and the famine--or widespread lack of
food--tragically caused about a million people to starve. The Irish potato
famine caused many people to leave Ireland. Many immigrated to America, and
that is why Americans often associate the potato with Ireland.